Debra VanDeventer, Author at Seams Like a Story

May 21, 2023May 21, 2023

School’s Out : Reflections From a Retired Teacher

The author blowing bubbles to celebrate her last day of teaching — Blowing Bubbles to celebrate the last day of my teching career.

Reflections From a Retired Teacher on the Last Day of School

Another school year is coming to a close. This week marks the five-year anniversary of my retirment from a 37-year teaching career, yet I still get giddy this time of year. I remember well those last few days spent with a class that had been my life for duration of a school year. The challenges, the victories. The kids that made me laugh, the ones that made me cry. The hope that I had given the best part of myself to each one of my students, knowing there were some who needed more. The lessons I taught and the lessons I learned. When my students filed out of my room on that last day of school, I was always happy and sad…but mostly exhausted.

Fortunately, teachers are a resilient lot. We bounce back over the summer and regain our enthusiasm for the next year. The butterflies build, you get your room ready and you greet your new class with excitment. The cycle repeats itself, yet each year is different from the ones before. It keeps you young, challenged, alive.

First Year Teacher — My First Year of Teaching

My first class http://seamslikeastory.com/my-first-class/

However, you can’t go on forever. Teaching is an all-consuming profession, leaving little time or energy for anything else. There comes a point in each teacher’s life when it’s time to stop. I stayed with it longer than most. It was difficult to leave my students, my friends, my profession, but I knew it was time.

So what happens next? For me, the transition was rocky. I’d been in a school setting most of my life and the world “outside of the crayon box” was a foreign place. It took several years for me to adjust to my new life. I had to get used to being in charge of my own schedule, and even little things like meeting a friend at Starbucks in the middle of the day was a new experience. I kept a journal, found a writer’s group, and turned the ups and downs of my journey into a memoir. (see link below)

Now that I have time to explore, I’m discovering many interests. Writing has become a passion, along with sewing, traveling, and finding creative ways to spend time with children and grandchildren.

Today, I honor my past as an educator, and embrace adventures yet to come. I’m reminded of a line from a favorite movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. When Judi Dench starts a new career later in life she asks:”How many lives can one person have?”

“As many as you like,” she answers.

The author standing in Piazza San Marco in Venice. — Here’s to new adventures! (Me in Piazza San Marco in Venice)

So there you have it my friends: Reflections from a retired teacher. Enjoy life wherever you are in your journey, and (as one of my favorite authors and critique partner signs each of his emails) Go Well!

Threads of Thought

What do you remember about your time as a student or teacher on the last day of school?

What tips might you share with someone who is getting ready to retire?

A bright blue book with a border of crayons across the bottom and the title OUt of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life

Read more about my transition from teaching to retirement! http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

(Makes a great gift for someone who is retiring this year)

May 14, 2023May 14, 2023

Beyond the First Draft

Door Closed, Door Open

the author works on her second draft — I feel another draft coming on…

For those of you who follow my blog, you know that I have recently spent a whirlwind five days finishing the first draft of my second book. You can find the hilarious recap here: http://seamslikeastory.com/diary-of-a-first-draft/ Now I’m thinking about what happens next. Every writer has their own process, but here are some thoughts from famous authors, and from personal experience with my first book: Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life.

Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird) calls the first attempt the “shitty first draft” that all writers must get down. She says:

“The first draft is the child’s draft, where you let it all pour out and then let it romp all over the place, knowing that no one is going to see it and that you can shape it later.”

a closed door with a do not disturb sign — Do the first draft with the door closed.

Door Closed

Stephen King (On Writing) says that you should write the first draft with the door closed. By this he means this first draft is for your eyes only. You write it without the help or influence of others. Once that initial rough draft is done, celebrate your accomplishment! It’s a big deal! Then King recommends putting is aside for a period of time (he says 6 weeks.) During this time, work on something else. Then take your manuscipt out (door still shut) and read it all the way through with fresh eyes. Do this in one sitting if possible and make notes. Look for mundane things like misspellings, inconsistancies, repeats. Then look for glaring holes. Is the story coherent? How can I make it sing? Rewrite the parts that need work.

Things are looking better! Now it’s time to open the door…

a critique group working around a table at a coffee shop — A little help from my friends…

Door Open

Once you get it right, or as right as you can at this point, be brave! Open the door and let others read your manuscript. This could be a few trusted friends, your critique group, beta readers, or an editor. Listen to what this group has to say. This is the first time your words are traveling out of your head and into the mind of a reader and it’s a crucial step. Something that was perfectly clear to you, may not make sense to someone else. What is the reaction to your work? Are two or more people saying the same thing? Carefully consider the input from your readers, then, as a writing friend of mine once said, “See what rings true for you.” In the end, it is your work.

Back to the drafting table you go to make any changes you think are necessary.

You’re almost there!

Final Polish

Now you have things the way you want and your manuscript is glowing! Go back through for a final look (King calls this the polish) before publishing or submitting it. Yes, I know, this tweaking process could go on forever, but at some point, you must tell yourself that you’re done, that this is the best you can possibly do at this point in your writing career, the best you’ve ever done, and you are happy with it.

Publish/Submit

Finally, you are ready to send your beautiful work out into the world. Will you self-publish? Seek an agent or publisher? Query magazines? All excellent topics for future blog posts. But one thing is certain… there is nothing like seeing your work in print. You simply must send it out.

“When you make it real, it can gloriously travel to all sorts of places. Even a seemingly tiny story can deeply affect other people.” -SARK (Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper)

Now go out and make it happen!

I did it and so can you! Check it out! http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

a published book arises from a stack of rough drafts — A published book arises from a stack of rough drafts.

Threads of Thought

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, each author has her/ his own process. What tips or advice would you give to others who are writing or thinking about writing? Add your comments below and join the conversation.

Seams Like a Story is a cozy blog that feels like a conversation with a friend over a cup of tea or coffee. (with no annoying pop-up ads) I’d love to have you be a part of it. Consider subscribing !

May 7, 2023May 7, 2023

Me-Made May

Celebrate Your handmade Wardrobe

(This post has been updated from it’s original posting date to include additional information)

Did you know that May is a month to celebrate sewing? Me-Made May was launched in 2010 on the blog So Zo, What Do You Know? and has been gathering attention every year since.

It began as a personal sewing challenge encouraging makers and sewists to set aside the month of May to get creative by styling and wearing their handmade garments instead of making or buying more. Over the years, it has grown into many things for many people.

Many will post photos of their creations on instagram #memademay, but it’s really is an individual challenge. Each person is encouraged to set their own intentions for the month.

Here are my goals for Me-Made May

Continue reading “Me-Made May” …

April 30, 2023April 30, 2023

The Naming of Things

The author with her sewing machine she named Ingrid. — Here’s one of my sewing machines.
She’s Swedish. Her name is Ingrid.

I name things. Of course I named my kids, and dogs and cats… and many, many goldfish (I was a kindergarten teacher and didn’t have the best track record with classroom pets) But I also name plants and inanimate objects. Is that weird?

The naming of plants:

The Agave named Spike — Spike, the agave that followed us from the Midwest to Arizona.

Christmas Cacti named Noelle and Jingles — Here’s Noelle, the Christmas cactus and her off shoot Jingles

Not all of my plants have names. Plants come and go. They die or get eaten by bugs or maybe you forget to water them. But I have a few favorites. Spike the agave has a special place in my heart. Ed brought him home from the greenhouse at the high school where he taught biology. When we moved to the desert, Spike thrived. Spike was the subject of my first ever published story, catapulting me to status of “Published Author”. (Ha, ha) I still have the check framed and hanging in my office.

Noelle was a gift from a student many years ago. She loves it here in by sunny window . She’s fickle, sometimes blooming at Christmas, but other times she blooms at Thanksgiving, or Valentine’s day or this year, she did a small bloom season at Easter.

One could argure that plants are living things and derserve to be named. But what about inanimate objects?

The naming of sewing machines…

You met Ingrid at the start of this blog post. I also have Kendra, my first sewing machine, a 1970s Sears Kenmore gifted to my at my college graduation. Then there’s Joyce a 1990s model Kenmore I inherited from my mother. I got the idea of naming my sewing machines from a visit to a vintage sewing maching booth at an antique mall in Indiana. The owner of the booth had names and personalities for each of her machines. I wanted to bring them all home! (I didn’t, but I went home and named all of mine.)

Check these beauties out: seamslikeastory.com/vintage-sewing-machines/

The naming of other things…

a picture of a laptop showing a picture of the author — A laptop named Dash

I recently purchased a new laptop named Dash. Dash is shiny, sleek, and fast, and helped me finish the first draft of my second book. I think we are going to make a great team.

And cars? Many people name their vehicles, but I don’t. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been a car person. As long my ride is dependable and gets me where I’m going I’m ok with it. Besides cars already come with names. We have “The Saturn” and “The Honda.” No need to elaborate.

Characters all around us.

a vintage swizzle stick is the main character in this magazine article — This vintage swizzle stick is the main character in my story featured in the Desert Leaf Magazine

I used to think my tendency to name things was weird, but then I read something that one of my favorite authors wrote. I can’t recall which one it was, but she names things too. She said that it’s common for authors to attach names and personalities to things because we see characters all around us.

Characters all around us. I like this idea! The world is full of characters–people, plants, and yes, even inantamite objects, and as authors we have the privilege of creating their stories and bringing them out into the world. In fact, it’s our job.

Why can’t a vintage swizzle stick come to life and complain that its new owner is a teetotaler? And imagine a cantankerous agave inspiriring a couple from the Midwest to move to the desert?

How dull life would be without the storytellers of the world. Now go out, find YOUR characters, write their story, then find a way to send it out into the world! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Threads of Thought

Ok, come on. I know you do it too.

I’d love to hear some of your names for things.

Write your comments in the box below and while you’re at it, be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already done so!

Joy, the potted plant recommends Debra’s book. A cozy, quick read sure to make you smile!

available now on Amazon http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer/

April 23, 2023April 23, 2023

Diary of a First Draft

….Deb’s Dash to the finish

a Minion figurine standing next to a Do Not Disturb sign

The thought came to me during my critique group meeting last week. I’d been plodding along with my travel memoir, wititng it “bird by bird” (as Anne Lamott says in her book by the same title), or “city by city” as was my case. I would finish a chapter every 2-3 weeks and had it close to the end. One more section to go, but I was dragging my feet. It could have easily been one of those manuscripts that ends up in a drawer or computer and never gets completed. During that meeting, I knew I wanted to see it through.

“I’m going to finish my rough draft .” I said to my writing friends. Somehow saying it out loud helped me to commit to the project. I cleared my schedule for the week (easier to do when you are retired), put on some comfy yoga pants and a tee shirt, put my phone in the other room , and told Ed not to disturb me. Except for food. I estimated around 12,000 words to finish. Can I do that in five days? Not likely, but I plan to make a significant dent in it! Here’s my 5 day progress in diary form. Wish me luck! Ready, set write!

Monday

Ed surprised me by moving his office chair into my studio to use for the week, replacing the old wooden one I usually use. Nice upgrade! I put my phone in the other room (good move by the way) and shut my door. I was afraid I would sit here all morning with no words in my head, but I’d already started an interesting chapter on Celafu (where disaster strikes) and I had lots of thoughts on how to finish it. By lunch time I’d written 1,132 words and by early afternoon I’d finished the chapter and had logged in a total of 2,208. Not bad for a first day! I treated myself to a trip to Frost Gelato Shop. (It’s research. The word gelato had appeared in my story.) Goodbye Cefalu. Tomorrow we are on to Venice!

Tuesday

Now I know why it’s called a rough draft. Today’s writing is slow going. Most of it is rough. Ok, maybe all of it. I struggled most of the morning trying to find the “theme” or the “point” of this piece, but I just kept writing.

Took a break at lunch and then it came to me. 1,704 words for today. Stephen King says he writes 2,000 a day. (I’m currently reading his book “ON Writing”) But I’m not Stephen King. I’m happy to have gotten as far as I did. That brings my two day total to 3,912.

Wednesday

Ugggh. I had a hard time sleeping last night. I woke up twice with words running through my brain. “What if I said it this way?” “I could move this part over to here.” “What about this?” Yikes. Anyway…I was finally able to go back to sleep, but then slept later than usual. Ed and I went on a nice long walk this morning (otherwise I’d be developing a chair-shaped butt) then, I worked steadily until we went out for lunch. (no starving artist here) A nice break.

Finished up this afternoon. with 1,718 words today. 5,630 total . I was able to write a fun section on “masquarade.” It’s interesting. Sometimes, I don’t know exactly where Im going until I start getting words on the page. Often it comes together in ways I wasn’t expecting.

A total of 5,630 words so far.

a couple is dressed for a masquerade on a bridge in Venice — I had fun trying to capture this trio in words! (FYI Saw these guys on a bridge in Venice. Does that look like a slinky on his head and around his neck? That’s how I described it. What would you say?)

Thursday

My fingers are aching from typing. I knew this would be an emotional challenge, but didn’t expect to injure myself in the process. Remind me again why I’m doing this?http://seamslikeastory.com/why-write-here-are-5-good-reasons/

A couple of Tylenol and I’m back in business. My theme song for today is “Unstoppable” by Sia. I’m surprised how fast time goes by when I’m writing. I almost worked through lunch. Ed had to come and remind me to eat. But I’m proud of myself. I’m a witer and for this week my writing is taking priority. Yay me! 2,103 words today… 7,733 total. Unstoppable.

Friday

Got an early start and am powering through today. I finished my chapter on Murano, and after lunch I wrote the last chapter. The very last chapter, and I’m IN LOVE with my ending (Though Stephen King says “kill your darlings”– what does he know? He hasn’t even read my ending) I cheered when I typed the final period. 10,379 words in five days!

I’m searching for the word to describe what I’m feeling right now. Stephen King says he does it for the BUZZ. This is often associated with being intoxicated (Full disclosure: I did celebrate with a limoncello spritz after I turned off the computer, I don’t recommend drinking and typing) But the word has a broader meaning.” a heightened mood characterized by feelings of euphoria, elation, and well-being.” That’s my word. Though is project is far from finished–there will still be the next draft, and the next, and the final editing– right now, I’m buzzed.

the author standing in front of St Marks Basilica in Venice, celebrating finishing the rought draft of her travel memoir.

Threads of thought

What challenges have you faced in your writing or in other situations?

What word would you use to describe the feeling you get when you accomplish a goal you’d set for yourself?

Oh, and most importantly…how would you describe the “slinky” on the Masquerade Man in the picture? (this would be a big help to me-might even put me in “best seller” category)

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave you comments in the box below.

Here’s my first published book! A fun read! Take a look!

http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer/